Apple Butter with Peels & Double Decking Jelly Jars

kriswrite(zone 8)August 20, 2012

I just got through making huge batches of applesauce - my first time doing so with the apple skins on (not peeled off). I'm ready to do some apple butter now. Is it safe to make it with the apples peels still on?

I also wonder if I can double stack jelly jars when using my pressure canner as a water bath canner?

Yes, you can process your apple butter the same way you made sauce. It is, after all, just thickened and spiced sauce.

Yes, you can stack jars in your canner (used as water bath), as long as you have a rack between the layers. You don't want a jar sitting directly on the lid of another jar.

I'm not sure how you plan to cook down the sauce into "butter", but I have found the crockpot is good for small batches and a large roasting pan in the oven is good for large batches. No scorching! I am not good about standing over a pot for hours on end!
In the oven, you can ignore it for 30, 60, 90 minutes with no problem! Depending on how high you have the heat.
I usually cook down at about 275-300 and stir every 30-45 minutes.